NO JAIL FOR RODMAN OVER DELINQUENT CHILD SUPPORT

Former NBA rebounding champion Dennis Rodman was sentenced in California family law court last Tuesday to 104 hours of community service on four counts of contempt for failing to pay child support. According to the Ventura County Star, the flamboyant former basketball star was also placed on three years of formal probation, while staying out of jail in the process.

“My suggestion is to use your talents as a motivator, as a fine, fine athlete and as a fine person to assist others in need,” Orange County Court Commissioner Barry Michaelson told the retired basketball player.

The sentencing brought to an end one of the disputes in the long running case, which began when Rodman’s now-ex-wife filed for divorce in 2004. But Rodman still faces additional contempt charges and allegedly owes back child support in the amount of $860,000. In court, the former basketball player said he’d do whatever community service was required near his home in Florida, which could possibly include working with children. Rodman also said he did not begrudge his ex-wife.

“It’s all about the kids,” the 51-year-old said of the ex couple’s two children after the hearing. “It does suck the fact that it had come to this.”

Rodman was found guilty of the four counts of contempt last year for child support owed from 2009 to 2010. Rodman’s attorney said the four charges stemmed from a period of time when he was expected to pay $50,000 a month in child support. That amount has since been reduced to $4,500 for both child support and spousal support.

After Tuesday’s hearing in family court in Orange County, Michelle Rodman’s attorney said he was pleased with the judge’s ruling and an award of $32,500 in attorney’s fees. Witnesses say the ex-wife’s attorney was “real pleased” with this latest ruling, and who could blame him.